The King's Highway eBook

The poor boy, wearied out, had once more fallen asleep
where he sat, and Sherbrooke, causing him to be put
to bed, remained busily writing till a late hour at
night. He then folded up and sealed carefully
that which he had written, together with a number
of little articles which he drew forth from the portmanteau;
he then wrote some long directions on the back of
the packet, and placing the whole once more in the
portmanteau, in a place where it was sure to be seen,
if any inquisitive eye examined the contents of the
receptacle, he turned the key and retired to rest.
The whole of the following day he passed in playing
with and amusing little Wilton; and so much childish
gaiety was there in his demeanour, that the man seemed
as young as the child. Towards evening, however,
he again ordered his horse to be brought out; and,
having paid the landlady for their accommodation up
to that time, he again left the boy in her charge
and put his foot in the stirrup. He had kissed
him several times before he did so; but a sort of
yearning of the heart seemed to come over him, and
turning back again to the door of the inn, he once
more pressed him to his heart, ere he departed.

CHAPTER V.

Journeys were in those days at least treble the length
they are at present. It may be said that the
distance from London to York, or from Carlisle to
Berwick, could never be above a certain length.
Measured by a string probably such would have been
the case; but if the reader considers how much more
sand, gravel, mud, and clay, the wheels of a carriage
had to go through in those days, he will easily see
how it was the distances were so protracted.

At all events, fifty or sixty miles was a long, laborious
journey; and at whatever hour the traveller might
set out upon his way, he was not likely to reach the
end of it, without becoming a “borrower from
the night of a dark hour or two.”

Such was the case with the tenant of a large cumbrous
carriage, which, drawn heavily on by four stout horses
wended slowly on the King’s Highway, not very
far from the spot where the wooden gates that we have
described raised their white faces by the side of the
road.

The panels of that carriage, as well as the ornaments
of the top thereof, bore the arms of a British earl;
and there was a heavy and dignified swagger about
the vehicle itself, which seemed to imply a consciousness
even in the wood and leather of the dignity of the
person within. He, for his own part, though a
graceful and very courtly personage, full of high
talent, policy, and wit, had nothing about him at
all of the pomposity of his vehicle; and at the moment
which we refer to, namely, about two hours after nightfall,
tired with his long journey, and seated with solitary
thought, he had drawn a fur-cap lightly over his head,
and, leaning back in the carriage, enjoyed not unpleasant
repose.

To be woke out of one’s slumbers suddenly at
any time, or by any means, is a very unpleasant sensation;
but there are few occasions that we can conceive,
on which such an event is more disagreeable than when
we are thus woke, to find a pistol at our breast,
and some one demanding our money.